2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 784 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 15 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, power adjustJul 23, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Campaign 14V447000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, defroster/defogger/hvac systemDec 23, 2009
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS". THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN CAUSE THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS WELL AS THE PANEL ILLUMINATION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DEFROST SYSTEM CAN DECREASE YOUR VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 09V489000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
132 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2019
DRIVING IN VERY RAINY CONDITIONS WITH MY WIPERS ON. SUDDENLY, THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO A 45 MPH ROAD. I TRIED TURNING THEM OFF AND ON AGAIN, BUT THEY WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AT ALL (DANGEROUS AND TERRIFYING) SO I PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND PULLED OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I MANUALLY PUT THE WIPERS BACK DOWN. I TRIED TURNING THEM ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES, AND AGAIN THEY WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 25, 2019
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. WIPER TRANSMISSION BUSHING FAILURE. DRIVING DURING RAINSTORM WIPERS FAILED.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 6, 2019
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (5:30PM, 9/5/2019), IN PREPARATION FOR TROPICAL STORM DORIAN ON HWY 70 BYPASS IN NC, MY WIPERS, WHICH WERE IN USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING DUE TO HEAVY RAIN POUR, SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I WAS FORCED TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO ZERO VISIBILITY. THIS SUDDEN/IMMEDIATE PULL OVER ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS MERGING INTO THE TURNING LANE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE THE WIPE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY AS THE ACTUAL WIPER FUSES AND MOTOR IS STILL IN FUNCTIONING ORDER. A NEW WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WAS PURCHASED AS RECCOMENDED
Visibility/wiper, Aug 26, 2019
WHILE THE WIPERS WERE IN THE FASTEST MODE THEY SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING AND THEY WOULD NOT LOWER BACK INTO POSITION. I CAN'T GET THE WIPERS TO OPERATE AT ALL. I CAN'T OPERATE THE VEHICLE IF IT'S RAINING BECAUSE I CAN'T WIPE THE RAIN OFF.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 22, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 19, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THE ROADWAY AT ALL. THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MY CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH CONSTRUCTION ALL AROUND AND IT BEGAN TO RAIN HEAVILY SO I TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND THE WIPERS WENT UP AND STOPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE, I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR ALARM OR ANYTHING. I WAS TERRIFIED!
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE, BUT IT APPLIED TO CANADIAN VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Power train, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2019
NUMBER ONE EXCESSIVE OIL STARTED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES. NUMBER TWO EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE FROM TIMING CHAIN AND CAM SEIZURES. NUMBER THREE TRANSMISSION FAILURE 52,000 MILES. NUMBER 4 WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 48000 MILES NUMBER 5 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY CAM ACTUATORS.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 24, 2019
DRIVER SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING
Visibility/wiper, Jun 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS SPOUSE WHO OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WIPER LINKAGE FRACTURED; HOWEVER, THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2019
I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE WIPER WENT PAST THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD AND JUST STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT TILL RAIN STOPPED TO DRIVE HOME. THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WORKING BUT WIPERS WILL NOT MOVE.
Visibility/wiper, May 28, 2019
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE HEADED HOME FROM ASHTABULA DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM ON A STATE HIGHWAY 528 N OF PARKMAN, TRAVELING APPROX 45 MPH, WHEN THE WIPER BLADES ABRUPTLY QUIT WORKING! WE WERE IN AMISH TERRITORY (AS IN THE POSSIBILITY OF APPROACHING HORSE-DRAWN BUGGIES) AND OUR VISIBILITY WAS INSTANTLY REDUCED TO ZERO. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT W/ THE2010 EQUINOX AND IT IS DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN (PLASTIC BUSHINGS).
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED AT THE TOP OF THEIR ROTATION, IMPEDING VIEW, AND NO LONGER MOVED. AFTER RETURNING HOME, HAVING TO DRIVE SLOWLY DUE TO HARD RAIN WITHOUT WIPERS, I TURNED THE WIPERS ON AND NOTICED THEY STILL DIDN'T MOVE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED OVER TO WINDSHIELD TO SEE IF I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR WORKING. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR BUT SAW NO MOVEMENT OF THE WIPERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND OUT THAT THE LINKAGE BUSHINGS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION AND I WANTED TO INCLUDE MY COMPLAINT SO CHEVY ISSUES A RECALL.
Visibility/wiper, May 18, 2019
ME AND MY WIFE WERE DRIVING WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN. SO I TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEN IT STARTED TO POUR DOWN AND IT WAS HARD TO SEE. WHEN I TURNED THE WIPERS ON HIGH SPEED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THEY STOPPED WORKING. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE WIPERS WERE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING I THINK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER.
Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2019
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR, BUT NO WIPERS
Visibility/wiper, Apr 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY LEAVE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 19, 2019
WIPERS SPONTANEOUSLY STOPPED WORKING. MOTOR CONTINUED BUT CONNECTION ASSEMBLY DETERIORATED AND FELL APART. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE MOTOR WIPER ASSEMBLY UNIT. THIS OCCURRED IN JUNE OF 2018.
Power train, Visibility/wiper, Feb 14, 2019
WIPERS TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. TRANSMISSION REVVING HIGH BEFORE SHIFTING. MOTOR TICKING.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 13, 2019
WIPER STOPPED WORKING LINKAGE BROKE
Visibility/wiper, Feb 12, 2019
WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY SNOW STORM AND THE WIPERS WENT COMPLETELY OUT I SPINNED AND ALMOST CRASHED. AFTER READING REVIEWS THIS IS COMMON AND GM ONLY RECALLED CERTAIN YEARS AND VIN NUMBERS LEAVING OTHERS TO DEAL WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. MY SON WAS ALSO IN THE CAR AND A PART OF THE FAULTY WIPER SYSTEM CHEVY IS SELLING TO ITS CUSTOMERS.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 8, 2019
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME MY WIPERS HAVE SEIZED WHILE OPERATING DURING A SNOWFALL. IT WAS NOT STORMY BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EITHER JUST HAD THE WIPERS ON SLOW TO CLEAR LIGHT SNOW. I WAS CITY DRIVING BARELY DOING 25 BOTH TIMES. IT HAPPENED LAST APRIL I HAD IT REPAIRED. NOW THEY SEIZED AGAIN LAST NIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD AND I THIS CHEVROLET SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I HAD LESS THEN 100,000 MILES ON IT THE FIRST TIME AN NOW I HAVE 104,000 AND IT BROKE AGAIN.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 7, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RAIN STORM ON INTERSTATE 495 SOUTH CAPITAL BELTWAY THE CAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLET OF MERRILLVILLE (1550 61ST AVE, MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410, 219-947-4151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2019
JANUARY 8TH IT WAS RAINING REALLY HEAVY AND I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET TO WORK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. ALSO RIGHT AFTER I'VE GOTTEN MY CAR MY CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE'S A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS HE SAID ARE VERY COMMON IN ALL THE EQUINOX AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX